| Pee Dee River | |
|---|---|
 Shad fishing in February, Pee Dee River, Yauhannah, South Carolina | |
 Pee Dee River watershed. | |
| Etymology | Pee Dee tribe |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina,South Carolina |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence ofUwharrie River andYadkin River |
| • location | North Carolina |
| • coordinates | 35°22′51″N80°3′29″W / 35.38083°N 80.05806°W /35.38083; -80.05806[1] |
| • elevation | 272.3 ft (83.0 m) |
| Mouth | Winyah Bay |
• location | South Carolina |
• coordinates | 34°43′16″N79°52′54″W / 34.72111°N 79.88167°W /34.72111; -79.88167[1] |
• elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Length | 232 mi (373 km)[2] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Winyah Bay |
| • average | 15000 cfs |
ThePee Dee River, also known as theGreat Pee Dee River, is ariver in theCarolinas of theUnited States. It originates in theAppalachian Mountains inNorth Carolina, where its upper course, above the mouth of theUwharrie River, is known as theYadkin River. The river empties intoWinyah Bay, and then into theAtlantic Ocean nearGeorgetown.
The northeastern counties ofSouth Carolina compose thePee Dee region of the state.
The exposed rock formations along its course are the source of aNISTreference standard.
It is an important source ofelectric power and public water supplies, as well as recreational use.
While the Pee Dee is free-flowing in South Carolina, upstream in North Carolina, several dams have been constructed on it. The opening and closing of these dams causes dramatic swings in the depth of the river in South Carolina. The sharing of water between the two states has sometimes been a matter of controversy, particularly during periods of drought.
Some commercial fishing is done during the wintershad run, and forshrimp in the lower reaches. The river is excellent for recreational fishing and boating.
There are numerous boat landings, yet most of the river is wild, with forests oftupelo,oak andgum along its shores.Herons andalligators can be seen along the way, and a lucky sighting of abald eagle is possible.
Public and private organizations have restored and conserved sections of the Pee Dee River in South Carolina,[3] along with the streams and wetlands around it, with ongoing efforts to restore and conserve even more sections of the river.[4]
The lower part of the river from Highway 378 toWinyah Bay has been designated a Scenic River.[5]
The river flows through the territory of the historicPee Dee tribe, and is named after them. The Pee Dee were a part of the South Appalachian Mississippian culture. The first Europeans believed to have possibly navigated part of the river was a party sent byLucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1521.[6]
Snow's Island is a large island at the Pee Dee and Lynches rivers junction. It has been identified as the center ofJohnsonville Impact Crater. The island was the headquarters of GeneralFrancis Marion for several months during theAmerican Revolution. It proved a haven for him and hismilitia troops, as theBritish were unable to find the camp until it was abandoned.
The world's largestlumber company existed at the turn of the 20th century near the river's mouth at Georgetown. The virginpine forests of the Pee Dee region were cutover, and the logs floated in rafts downriver to be sawn into lumber and exported to the northern United States andEurope.
Some tributaries are theLumber, theLittle Pee Dee,Lynches,Black andWaccamaw rivers.
The river was an important trade route through the Low Country from colonial times. It isnavigable from the Atlantic up to theFall Line atCheraw.
Today the river is not extensively used for navigation.
The lower part of the riverflood plain was extensively developed forrice culture in colonial time; rice was the major export of the area from the port at Georgetown. Rice culture declined with the freedom ofslave labor after theCivil War and with increased overseas competition. Twohurricanes at the beginning of the 20th century destroyed much of the rice canal infrastructure and effectively ended the remnants of rice culture.
Media related toPee Dee River at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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